Trupanion Pet Insurance Review: Pet Insurance That Pays Your Vet Directly

This pet insurer is a good fit for: Pet owners who would prefer their insurance directly pay their veterinarian.

Trupanion Pet Insurance Snapshot

Pricing
Trupanion's costs are a bit higher than many competitors, but many factors go into setting premium prices. Trupanion is one of the only insurers that sets lifetime premiums based on the age of the pet upon enrollment. While many insurers increase premium costs as pets age, Trupanion does not, so those with younger pets can get a better deal.

Discounts
Trupanion doesn't provide discounts, but does give pet owners the chance to take advantage of special offers. Pet owners who receive an offer after a veterinary exam will see their waiting period waived and will not be required to make an upfront payment to get covered.

Perks
Trupanion is one of the only pet insurers that can pay veterinarians directly. This means pet owners do not need to pay for care and wait for reimbursement. Trupanion also provides unlimited coverage with no payment caps and does not automatically increase premiums as pets age.

Customer service

Trupanion received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but actual customer reviews are mixed with some policyholders reporting problems getting claims paid.

Top perks

Trupanion can make direct payments to veterinarians for care

Many pet insurers require pet owners to pay out of pocket for medical services. Owners must submit claims and wait for reimbursement. Trupanion can pay vets directly. This means owners don't have to come up with money out of pocket and wait to get it back. Owners can also save time since they don't have to submit claims every time.

Trupanion sets premiums based on a pet's age at signup

Some pet insurers raise premium costs as pets age. Trupanion does not. The policy cost is determined when a pet owner signs up. This makes Trupanion more affordable for younger animals. Prices can go up over time due to changes in the cost of veterinary service or as a result of aggregate claims made by all pet owners. But automatic increases don't happen just because a pet is aging.

Pet owners have a choice of deductibles

A deductible must be paid out of pocket before an insurer covers veterinary care. Trupanion provides owners the option to choose a deductible from $0 to $1,000. Trupanion also offers lifetime per-condition deductibles Once a pet owner has paid a deductible for treatment of a chronic condition, no additional deductible is owed.

What could be improved

Trupanion could cover exams

Trupanion pays for diagnostic testing, surgeries, medications, hospitalizations, supplements, along with some prescriptions and prescription foods. But it does not cover exam fees even if a pet has a covered accident or illness.

Trupanion could have a shorter waiting period

Trupanion has a 30-day waiting period for illness coverage and a five-day waiting period for accident coverage. Other pet insurance companies have much shorter waiting periods, with some providing coverage in as little as 48 hours for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.

Trupanion premiums vary depending on the age of the animal when coverage is obtained. There is no average price listed for policies. However, based on sample quotes obtained, Trupanion is priced on the higher side compared with other insurers' cost of pet insurance.

If you want a pet insurance company that offers shorter waiting periods: Embrace Pet Insurance has just a 48-hour waiting period for accident coverage compared with five days for Trupanion. And Embrace's waiting period for illness coverage is 14 days. This is less than half the 30-day period for Trupanion. But keep in mind that Trupanion can directly reimburse vets for covered services while Embrace does not offer this feature.

Dog or cat insurance

Trupanion provides accident and injury coverage for dogs and cats. Diagnostic fees and treatment are paid for, but a standard exam fee is not covered.

Recovery and Complementary Care coverage

This optional add-on package provides 90% coverage for:

• Acupuncture
• Behavioral modifications
• Chiropractic care
• Hydrotherapy
• Rehabilitation
• Naturopathy
• Homeopathy

Trupanion offers

Trupanion does not provide discounts, but pets may receive a Trupanion offer. Offers include waived waiting periods and coverage with no upfront costs.

Trupanion allows pet owners to apply for coverage quickly and simply online. Quotes are customizable and can be obtained within minutes. After giving information about the pet's breed, age, and health status, Trupanion provides a quote, a chance to choose policy options, and sign-up forms.

Trupanion does impose a five-day waiting period for accident coverage and a 30-day waiting period for illness coverage. The clock begins running when a pet is enrolled and no coverage is provided until the required time has passed.

Trupanion provides pet insurance for dogs and cats only.

Trupanion received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau but received only 1.17 out of 5 possible stars in more than 80 customer reviews on the BBB website. Some past reviewers indicated they had difficulty getting claims paid and/or that Trupanion's definition of excluded pre-existing conditions was overly broad.

Trupanion is best suited for people who:

• Want their vet to be paid directly by the insurer
• Want a choice of deductible, including a $0 deductible
• Have younger pets and can qualify for lower pricing

But you may want to consider Embrace if you would prefer shorter waiting periods, or Pets Best if you want exams to be covered when you take your pet to the vet for a covered illness or injury.